Let's start with cancer. You forgot to list some of the contributing factors to cancer. Obesity, poor diet, lack of sun protection when going out, lack of exercise, etc. And yes, healthy people can suddenly get cancer, that is correct. as far as mental health and suicide, that has been an issue and has been on the increase for years. Before I retired, we had forced inservices on this complete with stats and online testing that we had to complete to get a certificate. I'll say it again, everyone wants to get back to normal. But polls have shown that people w in ant to do so in a safe, intelligent way. The protesters you see in TV number in the few hundreds at best at any given site. This last part is not aimed at you personally but is a for general attitude that I see here and on FB. The same people who are against abortion and claim to be so Christian, are often the same exact ones who appear to have no regard for the human lives we are losing right now to the virus and other things, such as cancer or suicide. They simply shrug it off by reducing this loss of life to statistics and especially older lives. I guess to them, in 5 years my life can be written off, as well. One thing that I will add, for those who have a dismissive attitude towards people who are 65 and older, one day they will reach this age, too. They won't be in their 20's and early 30's forever and ever. They will grey, lose hair, slow down physically (yes, even with exercise and diet) and I think we know the rest. I'm appalled by the disregard for human life in our society, that is unless you're a fetus. Again, I am not aiming this part at you personally. I'm just speaking my mind about a topic that strikes a nerve with me and disgusts me, greatly.

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But we have reached that point. Suicides are up. Mental health issues are up. Drug addition and alcohol abuse are up, (per trends from previous economic crashes) and current increases to mental health hotlines and doctor reports. And suicide is already the number two killer for ages 10 - 34!

Your example of young cancer patients is not the norm. Just like Covid deaths for younger patients is not the norm. According to the CDC Heart Disease and Cancer are the leading cause of death for people over 65. Leading causes of death for 20's is Accidental injury, suicide, and homicide. 30's is Accidental injury, suicide, homicide. Both of those cancer is number 4 and significantly fewer than the top 3 by about 24k to 1,400 and 35k to 4k respectively. 35 to 44 is Accidental injury with cancer/heart disease basically tied for 2nd and suicide a strong 4. 45 - 64 cancer and heart disease are the killers, (overwhelmingly so). Over 65 approximately 28% are cancer and 34% are heart disease.

I'm all for safety but let's realize there is more going on than an infectious disease. And let's realize it's time for us to work on our mental health in this country. There is a problem when suicide is taking that many young people!

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I couldn't disagree with you more. I'm glad that we have not reached a point yet where those philosophies are put into practice. As far as the 50 year old woman having a heart attack, maybe get off the couch, put down the potato chips and eat healthy and exercise. That prevents more heart attacks than any doctor visit. And I'm 60 years old and can tell you this. Not everyone ever 65 dies of cancer. There are 20, 30 year olds and even children who have died from cancer. Everyone wants to get back to work and to get things back to normal. But I would say then majority of thinking, reasonable people want to do it in a safe, responsible manner. Being a kid does not make them immune from getting the virus or being a carrier. Can kids get Chicken Pox? Can adults? Can kids get the measles? Can adults? Yes, there are some things like dementia that may affect certain ages, but we are talking about an infectious virus.

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I am showing respect for the health and safety of others. I am showing respect for those that have lost their jobs, that have lost their mental health, that have lost their health insurance, that have lost their dignity and safety and independence. I feel for those that have lost loved ones to this virus. But to me, an awful lot of coverage and "respect" has gone to the very small percentage of people and not to the greater masses.

And just to throw some fuel on the fire for discussion - how many of the covid deaths, (remember the majority of cases are in the older, more at risk population), would have died from cancer this year if not for Covid? Have we really increased the total number of deaths? That's what I really want to know before we throw people into financial ruin. If our measures have done nothing to stop the number of people dying each year then maybe it's time to rethink what we are attempting to do.... I am all for saving lives but I have said it before and I will say it again - sure looks to me like we are just trading which lives we are saving right now because while we save some from Covid we lose them to other health issues from a depression or from them not able/willing to take care of preventative medical visits. If that's callous - so be it. It isn't callous to that young father that might be saved from suicide. Or the 50 year old mother that might have prevented a heart attack but couldn't see her doctor....

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"More than 3.8 million cases of the virus have been confirmed worldwide, and more than 270,000 people have died from it" ...and in America (as of today) 79,522 deaths. In 2019 there were 606,880 cancer deaths in America. So, you are correct. However, I do not think you can honestly compare the 2.

I started in band in 1956. I know the importance of music (band etc.) in a child's life. The thing is, no matter how you say it - yes, you do come across as rather callous. All you can do is live the best possible life - and show respect for the health and safety of others.